Hanger assembly



April 11, 1961 KENYQN 2,979,298

HANGER ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 26, 1957 IN V EN TOR. rQ7u/ A. Kenya/7 United States Patent HANGER ASSEMBLY Paul A. Kenyon, Rte. 3, Box 360, Parkville, Mo.

Filed Aug. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 680,145

12 Claims. (Cl. 248- 62) This invention relates to hanger structure and more particularly, to a hanger assembly for suspension of fixtures and the like from ceilings or other supports.

The most important object of this invention is to provide hanger structure wherein the components thereof are formed of initially flat blanks and which are bent to suitable configurations to present bracket devices which may be mounted in any one of a number of positions on an elongated, notched strip, thereby making the assembly universally adaptable for suspension of various fixtures in any predetermined position relative to a ceiling.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive and efiicient hanger assembly including as components thereof an elongated, notched strip, and a bracket device adapted to be secured to the strip within one of the notches, to the end that the latter may be placed in position on the strip at any one of a number of predetermined positions in a minimum of time.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide an assembly of the aforementioned character wherein the initially flat strip and bracket blanks may be stamped out by commercially available machines, thus materially reducing the overall cost of the assembly.

Other important objects of the invention include the provision of an assembly as referred to above wherein one of the bracket devices adapted to be secured to the elongated, notched strip may be utilized either to suspend the strip from a ceiling or the like, or to secure a pipe or similar structure to the strip which is suspended from an overhead structure; a flat blank which is'adapted to be bent into a substantially U-shaped configuration presenting legs receiving the notched strip therebetween and havingrmeans thereon which may be wound around one of the legs and the strip within certain of the notches on the strip to thereby assure secure attachment of the U-shaped bracket to the strip; an initially U-shaped blank which may be bent to receive a pipe or the like and having laterally extending legs thereon which may be wound around the strip within certain of the notches to secure a pipe or the like to the strip when the same is suspended from an overhead structure; an initially flat blank having a plurality of arms extending laterally therefrom in one direction to the end that certain of the arms may be wound around each of a pair of elongated, notched/strips disposed in end to end relationship to thereby effectively interconnect the same; and other important objects and details of construction which will become obvious or apparent as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary, side elevational view of an assembly constructed according to the concepts of the instant invention and showing all of the component parts thereof, certain parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction;

2,979,298 Patented Apr. 11, 1961 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, edge elevational view of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a bracket blank show- 7 ing the form thereof before the same is bent into U- shaped configuration;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional views taken on the lines IVIV and V-V respectively of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another type of bracket blank before the same is bent into fixture-receiving configuration; and

Fig. 7 is a reduced plan view of a coupling unit blank before the same is wrapped around a pair of elongated strips in a manner to interconnect the same in end to end relationship.

A hanger assembly broadly designated by the numeral "10 is illustrated in the drawing and includes as the major components thereof, an elongated strip 12, a bracket device designated generally by the numeral 14, and a fixture bracket numerated 16. Assembly 10. as illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a device 14 on each end of strip 12 and which are identical in construction.

Each of the devices 14 comprises an initially flat, substantially F-shaped blank stamped out of relatively thin sheet metal and including an elongated body portion 18 having side edges 20 and 22; a pair of elongated, spaced arms 24 and 26 extending laterally from side edge 20 at the end 28 of body 18; a pair of stub projections 30 and 32 extending laterally from side edge 22 in offset relationship to arms 24 and 26 respectively to present shoulders 34 and 36 in alignment with the longitudinal edges of arm 24 and a shoulder 38 in alignment with the inner longitudinal edge of arm 26; a pair of spaced, stub extensions 40 and 42 projecting laterally from each of the side edges 20 and 22 respectively adjacent end 44 of body 18 and which are aligned to present a pair of oppositely facing notches 46 and 48, it being noted that notches 46 and 48 are substantially equal in width to the transverse width of arms 24 and 26; and an elongated slot 50 in body 18 midway between side edges 20 and 22, intermediate ends 28 and 44 and extending laterally inwardly from side edge 20. The lines along which bracket 14 is bent are designated by dotted lines 52. t

The fixture bracket 16 is constructed of an initially fiat, substantially U-shaped blank comprising an elongated main stretch 54, and a pair of elongated, laterally extending arms 56 and 58 extending from one longitudinal edge of stretch 54 and adapted to be bent along lines indicated by the numeral 60.

A coupling unit broadly designated by the numeral 61 is shown in blank formin Fig. 7 and includes an elongated body 63 having longitudinally extending side edges 65 and 67 and a pair of elongated, parallel, spaced arms 69 and 71 extending laterally from side edge 65 thereof. A pair of stub projections 73 and 75 extend laterally from side edge 67 of body 63 at each end thereof and as is clearly apparent in the drawing, each ofthe projections 75 is in alignment with the space between opposed arms 69 and 71 while projections 73 are laterally ofiset outwardly from respective arms 69. In this manner the notches 79 formed by projections 73 and 75 are in alignment with respective arms 69 while the shoulders 81 of projections 75 are in alignment with those longitudinal edges of arms 71 which are adjacent respective arms 69.

The imaginary lines along which arms 69 and 71 are bent are designated by the numeral 77.

Although coupling unit 61 is illustrated in reduced form in Fig. 7 it is of importance to note that the distance between arms 69 and 71 is equal to width of the projections on strip 12 presenting adjacent notches 66 while the distance between arms 71 is equal to approximately twice the distance between arms 69 and 71.

Strip 12 is constructed of relatively thin strap metal and has a pair of parallel, longitudinally extending side edges 62 and 64 each having a series of equally spaced notches 66 therein which present oppositely facing shoulders 63 and 70. It is notable that corresponding notches 66 in each of the side edges 62 and 64 are located so that opposed shoulders 68 and 70 are in transverse alignment. Of further importance is the fact that each of the notches 66 is of sufiicient width to receive one of the arms 24, 26, 56 or 58. A series of spaced, longitudinally aligned perforations 83 are provided in strip 12 for receiving nails or the like to the end that strip 12 may be nailed to wood joists and similar structures, thus elinti sting the need for bracket device 1 5-.

Hanger assembly is adapted to facilitate suspension of fixtures or the like, pipes 72 being illustrative of such fixtures, from an overhead structure 76 and, in this connection, it is pointed out that ceiling structure 74 is provided with a mounting bracket 76 adapted to receive a bolt or screw 78 in a manner as indicated in Fig. 1.

Device 14 is utilized to suspend strip 12 from bracket 76 and it is pointed out that the blank from which bracket device 14 is formed and illustrated in Fig. 3 is bent along the lines 52 adjacent perforation St) to present a substantially U-shaped device having a pair of adjacent legs formed by ends 23 and 44 and adapted to receive a portion of strip 12 therebetween. When the legs of device 14 are disposed over strip 12, the arms 24 and 26 are bent along the lines 52 thereof and wrapped around both of the legs of body 18 formed by ends 23 and 44, and the strip 12. As is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the legs of device 14 are positioned on strip 12 so that the notches formed by projections 38 and 32 and extensions 40 and 42 are in alignment with a pair of spaced notches 66 of strip 12. Therefore, when arms 24 and 26 are wrapped around the legs of device 14 and strip 12, arms 24 and 26 are disposed within corresponding notches 66 and engage shoulders 63 and 79 as well as corresponding shoulders on device 14-. In this manner, device 14 is securely locked in position on strip 12 and cannot reciprocate with respect thereto.

Although device 14 is constructed of relatively thin metal, bracket device 14 will support a large weight thereon because of the fact that both of the legs formed by ends 28 and 44 are securely locked to strip 12 by virtue of arms 24 and 26 engaging shoulders 68 and 70, as well as corresponding shoulders 34, 56 and 38 on end and the shoulders presented by notches 46 on end 44.

As shown in Fig. l, the bight of U-shaped device 14 is attached to ceiling 74 by virtue of bolt or screw 78 being disposed within perforation 50 in a manner to hold device 14 rigid to bracket 76.

It can also be seen that device 14 may be utilized to suspend a pipe or the like 72 from ceiling 74 by attaching the device to the lowermost end of strip 12 in the same manner a was described with respect to attachment of one of the devices 14 to the uppermost end of strip 12, and it is only necessary to secure the clamp 89 holding pipe 72 to the bight of device 14 by virtue of bolt and nut means 82 passing through perforation 50.

Fixture bracket 16 may be utilized to suspend a pipe 72 from ceiling 74 in any one of a predetermined number of positions and as is clearly apparent from Fig. 2, stretch 54 of bracket 16 is bent into a substantially U- shaped configuration presenting a pair of extensions 85 and 37 receiving a pipe 72 while legs 56 and 58 are bent along line 6t so as to be wound around strip 12. Again, it is noted that the arms 56 and 58 which are substantially equal in width to the width of notches 66 are wound around strip 12, with the same disposed within certain of the notches 66 so that the longitudinal edges or arms 56 and 58 engage corresponding shoulders 68 and 70. In this manner, bracket 16 is firmly attached to l strip 12 and the same will not become dislodged even under heavy weight loads.

It can be appreciated that coupling unit 61 can be utilized to interconnect a pair of strips 12 in end to end relationship by aligning body 63 with adjacent ends of a pair of strips 12 and subsequently winding arms 69 and 71 around corresponding strips 12. Because of the preselected spacing of arms 69 and 71, the same will engage corresponding strips 12 within a pair of notches 66 to thereby assure firm interconnection of strips 12. in this manner, the hanger assembly may be utilized to hang fixtures such as 72 at any distance from a support or ceiling 74 because of the fact that as many strips 12 as are necessary may be joined in end to end relationship to extend the effective length of the assembly.

Because of the fact that strip 12, device 14 and bracket 16 are constructed of initially fiat blanks, it is apparent that the same may be formed by commercially available stamping machines, thus materially reducing the overall cost of assembly 10 and making the same available at a much lower figure than heretofore available structures of this type. Furthermore, the construction presented is especially strong in view of its weight and is universally adaptable for all structure suspension jobs involving hanging of fixtures from ceilings in various predetermined positions.

If it is desired to hang a pipe 72 from strip 12 by use of one of the devices 14 in lieu of bracket 16, it is pointed out that strip 12 may be cut oif at any desired length so that the lowermost device 14 may be positioned at any desired location on the longitudinal length of strip 12.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hanger assembly, an elongated strip provided with a plurality of spaced shoulders; a substantially U- shaped device provided with a pair of legs receiving the strip therebetween; means on at least one of said legs securing the device to the strip and engaging one of said shoulders; a bracket; and means on the bracket securing the latter to the strip and engaging another of said shoulders.

2. In a hanger assembly, an elongated strip provided with a plurality of spaced shoulders; a substantially U- shaped device provided with a pair of legs receiving the strip therebetween; means on at least one of said legs securing both of said legs to the strip and engaging one of said shoulders; a bracket; and means on the bracket securing the latter to the strip and engaging another of said shoulders.

3. In a hanger assembly, an elongated strip provided with a plurality of pairs of spaced, oppositely facing shoulders; a substantially U-shaped device provided with a pair of legs receiving the strip therebetween; means on at least one of said legs engaging the strip between a pair of oppositely facing shoulders and securing said device to the strip; a bracket; and means on the bracket engaging the strip between another pair of oppositely facing shoulders and securing the bracket to the strip.

4. In a hanger assembly, an elongated strip provided with a plurality of pairs of spaced, oppositely facing shoulders; a pair of spaced, substantially U shaped devices each provided with a pair of legs receiving the strip therebetween; and means on at least one of the legs of each of the devices engaging the strip between spaced pairs of oppositely facing shoulders and securing respective devices to the strip.

5. In a hanger assembly, an elongated strip provided with a shoulder; a substantially U-shaped device provided with a pair of legs receiving the strip therebetween; and strap means on at least one of said legs surrounding the strip and engaging the shoulder.

6. In a hanger assembly, an elongated strip provided with a shoulder; a substantially U-shaped device provided with a pair of legs receiving the strip therebetween, there being a projection on one leg of the device aligned with said shoulder; and strap means on the other leg, surrounding the strip and said one leg and engaging said shoulder and the projection.

7. In a hanger assembly, an elongated strip provided with a plurality of spaced notches each presenting spaced, oppositely facing shoulders; 21 substantially U-shaped device provided with a pair of legs receiving the strip therebetween, there being a notch on one of the legs presenting spaced, oppositely facing projections aligned with a pair of oppositely facing shoulders; and strap means on the other leg surrounding the strip and said one leg between aligned projections and shoulders thereof respectively.

8. In a hanger assembly, an elongated strip provided with a plurality of spaced notches each presenting spaced, oppositely facing shoulders; a substantially U-shaped device provided with a pair of legs receiving the strip therebetween, there being a plurality of spaced notches on one of the legs presenting spaced, oppositely facing projections aligned with an equal number of oppositely facing shoulders; and an elongated strap on the other leg adjacent each of the notches thereof and each surrounding the strip and said one leg between respective aligned projections and shoulders thereof.

9. In a hanger assembly, an elongated strip provided with a plurality of spaced notches each presenting spaced, oppositely facing shoulders; a substantially U-shaped device provided with a pair of legs receiving the strip therebetween, there being a notch on one of the legs presenting spaced, oppositely facing projections alignable with a pair of oppositely facing shoulders on the strip; and a strap integral with the other leg and removably wound around the strip and said one leg between aligned projections and shoulders thereof respectively.

10. In a hanger assembly for suspending an elongated member from overhead structure, an elongated strip provided with a plurality of spaced notches each presenting spaced, oppositely facing shoulders; a substantially U- shaped device adapted to be secured to said structure and provided with a pair of substantially parallel legs receiving one end of the strip therebetween, one of the legs having a notch therein presenting spaced, oppositely facing projections aligned with a pair of oppositely facing shoulders on said one end of the strip; strap means on the other leg of the device surrounding said one end of the strip and said one leg between aligned projections and shoulders thereof respectively; a substantially U-shaped element presenting a pair of extensions receiving said member therebetween and each having longitudinally extending edges; and initially laterally extending arm means integral with one of the side edges of each of the extensions respectively and each being wound around the strip within one of the notches therein.

11. A fixture bracket adapted to be mounted on an elongated strip provided with a plurality of spaced notches, said bracket comprising a substantially U-shapcd body provided with a pair of extensions and a bight between said extensions, each of said extensions having an extremity spaced from said bight and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges; and an arm integral with the extremity of each of said extensions and transversely disposed relative thereto, said arm extending laterally from one of the edges of the corresponding extension and adapted to be wound around the strip within one of the notches of the latter.

12. In a hanger assembly for suspending an elongated member from overhead structure, a pair of elongated strips disposed in aligned, end-to-end relationship and each provided with a plurality of spaced notches along theopposed, longitudinal edges thereof; a coupling unit including an elongated body portion normally disposed in overlapping relationship to substantially abutting ends of said strips, said portion having initially laterally extending arm means at opposed extremities thereof in wrapped engagement with the proximal strip at said abutting end of the latter and disposed within correspond ing notches of said last-mentioned end; a substantially U-shaped device adapted to be secured to said structure and provided with a pair of substantially parallel legs receiving therebetween the opposite end of one of the strips, one of said legs being provided with a notch in each of the longitudinal edges thereof; initially laterally extending strap means on the other leg of said device in wrapped engagement with said opposite end of said one strip and said one leg within corresponding notches of said one strip and said one leg; a substantially U-shaped element presenting a pair of extensions adapted to receive said member therebetween, each of said extensions having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges; and initially laterally extending band means integral with one of the edges of each of said extensions and in wrapped engagement Withsaid strip Within said notches thereof presenting interlocking means between said strip and said extensions.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 541,420 Bookhout June 18, 1895 936,552' Morrill Oct. 12, 1909 1,366,321 Kahn Jan. 18, 1921 1,376,284 Kohn Apr. 26, 1921 1,452,993 Wack Apr. 24, 1923 1,517,515 McGary Dec. 2, 1924 1,644,899 Southgate Oct. 11, 1927 1,734,356 Welch Nov. 5, 1929 1,873,039 Robinson Aug. 23, 1932 2,394,518 Kindorf Feb. 5, 1946 2,710,435 Crosby June 14, 1955 

